'A well-known local man': Tributes paid to pensioner who died on Cumbrian road

TRIBUTES have been paid to a pensioner who died in a road collision on his way back from Wigton market.

Mr George Atkinson, aged 88 from Thursby, died following a road traffic collision on the A596 at Wigton on Friday.

Mr Atkinson’s daughter Shirley said: “George lived in Thursby for almost 20 years and had been returning home from a shopping trip to Wigton Market when the accident happened.

"He moved to Thursby from Waverton with his late wife Kathleen. He was well known locally for repairing lawnmowers and was also a keen draughts player at Thursby village Hall.

“George was a father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, he will be sadly missed by his family, friends and his neighbours.”

Mr Atkinson died when the Ford Fiesta he was driving was involved in a collision with a HGV at the junction of Station Road and the A596 at Wigton.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary at Newcastle by air ambulance for treatment to serious injuries, however, he sadly died shortly after arrival.

The driver of the HGV, a man in his 60's from the Silloth area, was uninjured.

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The road was closed for five hours while collision investigation work, including the recovery of the vehicles, took place.

Officers from Cumbria Constabulary Roads Policing Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, and anyone with any information is asked to contact PC 1544 Lewis Powell at the West Roads Policing Unit at Workington on 101.

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